3,138 Studies Reviewed. 77.4% Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.

Note: This study found no significant biological effects under its experimental conditions. We include all studies for scientific completeness.

Mobile phone use and subjective symptoms. Comparison of symptoms experienced by users of analogue and digital mobile phones.

No Effects Found

Sandstrom M, Wilen J, Oftedal G, Hansson Mild K · 2001

View Original Abstract
Share:

Longer mobile phone conversations correlated with more headaches and ear warmth regardless of analog or digital technology.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers compared symptoms between users of older analog phones (NMT) and newer digital phones (GSM) among nearly 17,000 people in Sweden and Norway. Contrary to initial reports suggesting digital phones caused more symptoms, the study found GSM users actually experienced fewer symptoms like ear warmth and headaches. However, people who talked longer on either type of phone reported more symptoms overall.

Study Details

In 1995 many people reported symptoms such as headaches, feelings of discomfort, warmth behind/around or on the ear and difficulties concentrating while using mobile phones. The number of complaints was higher for people using the digital (GSM) system, i.e. with pulse modulated fields, than for those using the analogue (NMT) system. Our main hypothesis was that GSM users experience more symptoms than NMT users.

An epidemiological investigation was initiated including 6379 GSM users and 5613 NMT 900 users in Sw...

The adjusted odds ratio did not indicate any increased risk for symptoms for GSM users compared with...

Cite This Study
Sandstrom M, Wilen J, Oftedal G, Hansson Mild K (2001). Mobile phone use and subjective symptoms. Comparison of symptoms experienced by users of analogue and digital mobile phones. Occup Med (Lond) 51(1):25-35, 2001.
Show BibTeX
@article{m_2001_mobile_phone_use_and_3360,
  author = {Sandstrom M and Wilen J and Oftedal G and Hansson Mild K},
  title = {Mobile phone use and subjective symptoms. Comparison of symptoms experienced by users of analogue and digital mobile phones.},
  year = {2001},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11235824/},
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Researchers compared symptoms between users of older analog phones (NMT) and newer digital phones (GSM) among nearly 17,000 people in Sweden and Norway. Contrary to initial reports suggesting digital phones caused more symptoms, the study found GSM users actually experienced fewer symptoms like ear warmth and headaches. However, people who talked longer on either type of phone reported more symptoms overall.